# NTSB WPR25LA078: Bell 206A, N6255N, Lemoore, CA, January 14, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 14, 2025, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Lemoore, CA · open field near power lines
- Coordinates: 36.351211, -119.88717
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3512&lon=-119.8872&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199544
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199544/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199544
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA078

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1181508), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1181508), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell 206A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1181508), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell 206A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1181508), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bell 206A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1181508), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting an aerial application flight and was transitioning to another field when the helicopter struck a power line. The pilot stated that he did not see the wires between the two fields. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6255N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6255N-2025-09-15), registration cancelled 2025-09-15, S/N 129, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206A
- Registry model: [Bell 206A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206a) (registry code 1181508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 129
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 12119.4
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20B 420 hp turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Trinkle Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Trinkle Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 2024, 41 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,500 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 8,450 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observed at: KNLC, 3 nm away
- METAR: KNLC 141856Z 10004KT 10SM CLR 12/01 A3038 RMK SLP290 RH/46 T01170006

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250114000129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250114000129A), Jan 14, 2025: Bell 206A, Lemoore, CA, Destroyed. On January 14, 2025, while conducting agricultural operations, the helicopter hit a power line with its main rotor blade while flying at a low altitude en…

## Other investigations on N6255N (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB OAK69D0171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69D0171), Nov 2, 1968: Bell 206A (N6255N), Hanapepe, HI, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199544. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18407093&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LA078%206120%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18427749&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LA078%20Photos-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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